The Chunky Munky

Snap Clip Happy!!

2011-08-30T04:13:00.001+02:00

I decided I wanted to make something new for the hair, but a bit smaller and great for those days when you don't want to wear a headband. So, I dug around in my mountain of hairclips, buttons, and fabric and came up with these cute new additions! My little munky is LOVING these. She wanted to try on every single one! The best part about these is how fun they are for any age, even us "moms" can pull these little guys off and add a little style and cuteness to our day ;o)

Fun Stuff For Boys Too!!

2011-08-30T04:03:00.000+02:00

I am just in love with the new little boy's neckties that I've just started making! (It helps when your model is super adorable too!) Within the next month, I will have these available in a number of different styles and colors. Just in time to make a great Christmas gift for that special little guy or awesome accessory for those upcoming family holiday photos ;o)

Where can you find me??

2011-08-14T01:37:00.000+02:00

I have a busy season ahead of me! I have signed on for quite a few different vendor shows this fall and winter plus I will also be displaying items in two different shops in the QCA. So, be sure to stop by and check out one of the great shows or places listed below!

First up, as of September 1st, I will be located in The Crow's Nest in the Walnut Center on Brady St, and I will also be located in a new boutique in Moline called Jocelyn's that will be off 16th St and 23rd Ave.

Now on to vendor/craft shows!

August 20th, 12-4pm - Bettendorf Community Center - Walk to End Alzheimers Benefit

September 10th, 9-4pm - Le Claire Civic Center - Women's Health Fair

September 24th, 10-2pm - Bettendorf Library - QCMIB Benefit for Light the Night Walk

October 13-16th - Littig House - Cream of the Country Craft Show

October 22nd, 10-2pm - Bettendorf Community Center - ICANN Fall Festival

November 5th, 10-5pm - Northpark Mall - QCMIB Invades the Mall

So, there it is! My fall schedule for Chunky Munky Boutique.. Now if I can only manage to keep it all under control with my budding photography business and 2 active little munchkins!

Adding a little spark to the home decor!

2011-08-04T06:57:00.000+02:00

I just finished up my latest project, and I'm loving it!! I decided to try making a few more things for around the house because I never can seem to find what I want in the store.. This time happened to be when I was looking for a set of coasters to match the more retro orange and brown them that I have going on in my living room. I went to Lowe's and grabbed some ceramic tiles, and after a trip to Hobby Lobby, I was back home with everything that I needed to make my first set of tile coasters.

I absolutely LOVE the way these turned out!! I'm planning to make them in a number of different designs, so look out for them on my etsy shop over the next few weeks!

Been a LONNNNGGGG Time!!

2011-07-19T03:48:00.000+02:00

So, after a long hiatus, I've decided to enter blogland again! I technically haven't been completely out of the loop since I've still been blogging with my photography, but I've really missed posting about my sewing, crafts, and just general fun tidbits of day-to-day life.

My latest project has been working on some of these super cute fabric flower headbands! I absolutely love making them! Here's a quick preview of a few of the recent ones:

I have plans for plenty of other adorable crafty projects and can't wait to get back in the swing of things!

Planting Seeds - Day 1

2010-03-12T21:29:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, the Little Diva and I started planting all of the seeds that we bought earlier this week. She filled the trays with the "Jiffy-Mix" seed-starting soil (which we conveniently used with the seed-starting "you can plant directly in the ground" tray/cups) , and I helped her water everything. Then, we added all of our new seeds, one veggie/fruit/spice at a time. First, we added our tomatoes, then carrots, strawberries, chives, and last of all, cilantro.

Now, anyone who has been in my life for long knows that I do NOT have a green thumb. I can't even keep a basic ivy plant alive in my house. The only thing that I have ever been able to sustain and keep alive were some tulip bulbs that I planted in my backyard once when we lived in Iowa, and I really can't take full credit for that. They just arrived on their own every March, and if they were lucky I would remember to water them until they finished blooming.

So, with that in mind, we shall see how this gardening thing goes HAHA! The Little Diva can't wait for the "green plants" to show up, and she made sure to check them and see if they were there yet today. She loves it so much that I am going to try my very hardest to keep my poor plant habits from surfacing! Wish us luck!!

Budgets, gardening, reading, and progress!

2010-03-05T22:20:00.000+01:00

So, I'm actually making progress on my 101 in 1001! I have sat down and began to formulate a budgeting system for our expenses. Currently, it's a work-in-progress, but at least it's something, which is more than I can say about before. Also, I paid off my student loan, which is great because now I don't have to throw money at that thing anymore. Just need to pay off the cars, and we're set!

I sat down with the Little Diva today to decide on what we wanted to plant in our "garden." After doing some serious searching to find out what we could and should grow in our backyard pots, we made some big decisions. We will officially be attempting to grow carrots, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, and (for my choice) chives, cilantro, mint, and basil. I'm actually just as excited as she is to see how this turns out! I've been saving eggshells to make our starter plants, like this: http://buildmakecraftbake.com/2009/04/eggshell-planters.html. We are going out to buy all of our seeds and supplies next week, and I will keep everyone updated on how that goes :o)

Currently, I'm working on finishing this month's photography book, Beyond Portraiture by Bryan Peterson . This has been a fantastic book (as are all B. Peterson books that I have read so far), and I have actually almost finished reading it in just over 3 sit-downs! I love all of the ideas he has in this book for how to approach strangers and rarely have them say no to a photo op. He goes through so many things including setting scenes, backgrounds, how to "see" what a photo could be. Loving it so far and can't wait to finish!

Potty-training of the little Munky is in progress, but we'll see how that goes. Currently, she just thinks it's hilarious to continually say "poopoo" and strip her pull-up off, have a seat on the potty for about 2 milliseconds, and then proceed to jump off and chase the dog around the living room butt-naked. We have our good days and bad days, but I'm letting her do it her own way since trying to do it my way with the little Diva took me almost 5 months. So, we don't push, just leave the potty out, and she goes when she feels the need to. So far, it seems she's progressing because now she no longer will leave on a dirty diaper longer than the time it takes her to tell me it's wet. By the time that I get back with a new one, she's already stripped herself down and having a seat on her little Ikea potty. I highly recommend those by the way, Ikea potties. I have three of them placed stratigically all over the house, and it has been amazing how much she attempts to use them!!

101 in 1001.... Updated 2/26/10

2010-02-16T23:17:00.002+01:00

So, I know, I know, it's been a VERY long time! I promise that I will try harder to keep up with this blog and be more present in the following days. I have a ton of plans and ideas floating around in my head, but it's just a matter of finding the actual time to accomplish any of them.

In an attempt to try and follow-through with some of these plans and reach some of my goals, I have decided to do the list of "101 things I want to accomplish in 1001 days." I'm not sure where this concept actually originated, but I was inspired by my fellow photographer friend over at Just LauraLu. She had such an amazing list of things that she wanted to do, and I realized, "wow" I really should think about my goals and expectations of the coming years. I think when we write our thoughts down it makes them more tangible, and we work harder to reach them. Therefore, I have officially started my 101 in 1001, and I will be keeping track of my progress, good or bad, within this blog. It should be interesting....

So, here's my list so far, but it's still in progress!

101 in 1001

1. Start a little backyard garden with my daughter

2. Take a trip to Paris

3. Make a trip to the UK

4. Payoff one of our cars completely

5. Update and continue to keep up with my family/sewing blog

6. Drink at least 40oz of water everyday

7. Build a photojournalism portfolio

8. Dedicate one night per month to “date night”

9. Start using all of the scrapbook stuff that I own and actually MAKE a scrapbook for the girls

10. Walk at least 5 miles every week

11. Be able to speak at least 5 full sentences in German before we leave here.

12. Put my oldest daughter in swimming lessons

13. Learn how to ski

14. Teach myself to knit

15. Find a church that my family loves

16. Go a full 7 days without logging into Facebook

17. Read 1 new photography book every month

18. Go to a photography convention

19. ~~Set-up a “real” budgeting system for our day-to-day expenses~~

20. Save and invest enough to equal a 30% down payment on our next larger home purchase

21. Produce at least 200 stock photography images

22. ~~Payoff my student loan~~

23. Set-up photography classes in Wiesbaden, Stuttgart, and K-Town

24. Upgrade my camera to a 7D or 550D

25. Make my youngest daughter’s quilt for her bed

26. Do something special for my husband everyday

27. Keep my grocery bill healthy and under $75/week for a family of 4

28. Potty-train my youngest daughter

29. Take a trip to Prague

30. Take a trip to Rome and Naples

31. Take a trip to Amsterdam

32. Read every book on this list: http://www.time.com/time/2005/100books/the_complete_list.html

33. Read the Twilight series, so I can try to understand what all the hype is about

34. Take my 4-yr old to see a movie at the theatre for the first time

35. Schedule a family outing at least once a week

36. Uninterrupted (no computer, no phone, etc…) playtime with my girls for at least one straight hour everyday

37. Make a trip back to the States to visit family and friends

38. Get my office and files completely organized

39. Implement a better ordering system on my website

40. 101 more clients in these 1001 days

41. Sew over 50% of both of my daughters’ wardrobes for one summer season and compare to the usual costs

42. Have one Christmas devoted to handmade gifts for family and friends

43. Take my oldest daughter ice skating

44. Add money to each of the girls’ savings accounts every month, no matter whether it’s just a $1 or $100.

45. No more purchasing meals that come frozen or in a box

46. Beat Super Mario Bros. on the wii

47. Actually have a daily schedule

48. Go to my oldest daughter’s very first dance recital

49. Teach my younger daughter her ABC’s

50. Get my oldest daughter to all of her soccer games and practices every week

51. Have a girl’s night out or day out at least once a month

52. Have “me” time at least 30 minutes every day

Latest sewing project...

2009-10-22T22:23:00.003+02:00

So, my photography business has taken off with leaps and bounds, which is WONDERFUL!!! But it has left me with little time to sew and create new things for the girls. I did manage to finally fit this cute little top in the other night though! I absolutely LOVE the patterns by Whimsy Couture. This lovely little number is from her Peasant Top and Dress pattern, which is super easy to follow and easy to give a bit of your own style to as well. I have a number of her other patterns, including the Easy Capris/Pants, which I have used to make my daughter PJ pants with that she LOVES. Thank you Whimsy Couture!

Where does the time go??

2009-09-17T10:16:00.003+02:00

It seems like just yesterday that she was still in that wobbly-walking stage, and she loved to spin in circles until she fell down in the very middle of the kitchen floor. We would have the radio going full blast, and she would just laugh and bounce and spin until finally she would plop herself down from exhaustion.

Now, let's fast-forward, and I have a beautiful little girl starting her first day of dance class. Where did my little toddler go?? She has grown up so fast, and I have no clue where the time has gone.

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-09-08T23:20:00.000+02:00

Made by Rae Jackpack Backpack GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

You have just got to LOVE these adorable backpacks!! Click on the link above to enter a fantastic giveaway for either the backpack or the pattern. I think I will be buying the pattern whether I win or not, so cute!!

A new dress!

2009-06-22T22:39:00.003+02:00

Okay, I know I've been MIA for a few weeks, but I have just been so busy and distracted with all of my new projects that I have going on around here! Not to mention, the two little munchkins that keep me on my toes 24/7. I finally got around to making a new dress for the little diva, and I think it is officially my favorite pattern so far! It turned out so cute, and she kept telling me how pretty it was and that she loved wearing it. Mommy was more than ecstatic to hear those words! If you want an adorable and super quick dress, you have to check out this pattern by The Handmade Dress. This little number only took me about an hour and a half, maybe two, to make, which means I almost finished it during naptime. That's something you can't help but LOVE!

Rude and Pathetic!

2009-06-10T23:43:00.003+02:00

Due to some VERY rude and uncalled for comments that were received anonymously (which that will now be ending as well, sorry to any family or followers that don't hold google accounts) on a previous post of my baby, I have removed that particular post. It just disgusts me what people will say about children, and I guess I should have know better than to post those photos. There are so many CHILDREN'S photography sites with the same type of pictures that I didn't expect it to be pinpointed like that in such a disgusting manner. I'm so ticked off right now that I'm contemplating removing all of the pictures of my children completely and ending it there. I blame myself for being so stupid as to think that people could see the simple innocence in a BABY picture and not distort it into something altogether different. I will be posting less and only select pictures of my children from this point on, and this includes on my photography blog as well. That was just too much for me to want to hear someone say about my child.

The Scrunchy Face!

2009-05-31T00:34:00.000+02:00

How can you not love this adorable munchkin with her cute scrunched up nose and "what the heck, mommy??" look on her face!

The Little Boy's Tie in Action!

2009-05-20T08:37:00.001+02:00

I wanted some pics of the new tie I made, but of course I don't have a boy to model anything on. So, my friend was a lifesaver and took these pictures of her little boy with it on for me. He wasn't too excited about it, but he's a such a cutie anyway that it doesn't matter!

My new adventure

2009-05-14T00:04:00.008+02:00

So, as some of you already know, I love photography! I finally decided to make a separate blog dedicated to building my skills and portfolio. It took me a little while to decide on a name, but I finally went with "Cherished Keepsakes." It just made me think of all of those great moments that I like to capture of my girls and how much I love them. You can check out my new blog here:

This week's kid's project

2009-05-11T23:05:00.003+02:00

Okay, so I've been running a little behind on posting my projects with the little diva, but here's her latest. I didn't actually do the usual weekly craft, but instead just let her go with the finger paints, paper, brush, and a plaster car. She had a grand time painting to her little heart's desire! As you can obviously tell, her fave colors are purple and blue. Shockingly, there was not too much mess to clean up afterwards. Hope you enjoy her masterpiece, and we look forward to her next project!

My Sweet Little Munky

2009-04-25T22:05:00.004+02:00

This picture encompasses everything that I love and adore about my cuddly little Chunky Munky. I just love her sweet little face and thumb-sucking ways :o)

Robots...

2009-04-24T21:26:00.004+02:00

We worked on our Kids Craft Weekly project today, and the Little Diva was super excited about her new robot. She absolutely could not wait to dig into that pile of felt and all of my button stash. After much thought about what colors to use and how many buttons to add to his tummy, she finally settled on her choices. Then, she got down to the business of gluing all of the pieces to the cardstock. I found this to be the most amusing part because she hates to get her hands messy, and you can imagine how much glue was getting all over her fingers while she was trying to chase those felt pieces down. After trying to enlist me to do it for her (but I wouldn't), she finally got over the mess and started to enjoy putting the whole picture together. Next, it was time to decide where to put all of thos pretty buttons that she had spent so much time picking out. By the time we were finished, almost an hour had slipped by, and this little fellow was born!

My Version of Little Boy's Tie

2009-04-21T23:48:00.005+02:00

This week I finished my first try at my own idea for a little boy's tie. This particular tie is made with a clip-on back due to responses that I received from other moms stating their preferences. I think it turned out pretty cute, but I would love to know what everyone thinks and if you would like to see a tutorial. It is fairly easy to make and is great for using up scrap fabrics. I used a dark red corduroy for the backing and a ribbon-lined alligator clip for the clip-on. The front has coordinating fabrics and ribbon with button accents. Let me know what you think and if enough people want to see how it's made, I will get to work on a new tutorial. So, keep the feedback comin'!

Crafty Kids

2009-04-17T09:11:00.005+02:00

I had a few people during the giveaway who wanted to see crafts for kids, but I am just not good with ideas for crafts that my kiddos can actually do. So, I found this fantastic website and newsletter instead: Kids Craft Weekly. It is absolutely wonderful and a great place for easy yet cute crafts for the kids. The site has great articles and some creative printables for the kids. They also have a monthly giveaway for a free book if you post pictures of your crafty little ones in the photo pool. You receive a weekly newsletter in your email, usually with a really fun theme and a number of new ideas. My plan is to complete one of these projects with the Little Diva each week, and I will post pictures of her completed results here. If you have a blog (or even if you don't), you are welcome to follow along with your kids and post pics on your blog as well. Just leave a comment on that week's post, and we would love to come check them out. So, get out that construction paper, the messy glitter, and those glue sticks and have a blast!

Hundredth Zoo Trip, First German Zoo

2009-04-15T08:16:00.005+02:00

The weather was so wonderful last weekend that I just had to go explore something or somewhere, and we had promised the Little Diva that we would take her to the zoo soon. So, we made our first trip to a German zoo at the Tiergarten Heidelberg (translation: Heidelberg Zoo). We had a great time, including having a lion close enough that a very brave/stupid person could have practically touched him/gotten their hand bitten off. We went with some friends that were in town which was great, and the kids had a fantastic time. I have to say that they let you get MUCH closer to the animals here than they would ever consider in stateside zoos, which is amazing and scary at the same time. Heidelberg’s zoo is a rather small zoo, so I wonder how things will be at the next zoo we visit… and I’m sure there will be a next, and a next, and a next….

Clip,Band, or Just Like Daddy?

2009-04-06T10:58:00.004+02:00

Okay, I have some ideas for a little boy's tie tutorial, but I wanted a little input first. I am trying to decide whether to make this tie with a clip, an elastic band to go under the collar around the neck, or a full-size tie just like Daddy's. What would you guys like to see??

First true shots in manual...

2009-04-06T08:20:00.005+02:00

As time will show, one of my many other obsessions is photography. I take so many pictures of my kids that my 3 year old now runs when she sees me coming with a camera. I was lucky enough to get an amazing Canon Rebel XSi DSLR for an early Christmas gift, and I have been on a mission ever since. I wanted to make sure that I used the camera to its full worth. I figured if I was just going to keep pointing and shooting in auto that I might as well have not wasted the money and just kept my old one. So, I have been reading and studying how to use all of my manual settings to their full capacity. I just had to share these shots that I took a couple of days ago; first, because they are just too darn cute, and second, they are my first TRUE manual indoor shots. I did not use a flash with these photos or any auto settings. I set my aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and metered my own lighting for these. Needless to say, I was very proud of how they turned out for being my first time to try it on my own. One step further away from amateur photography… Watch out world!

And the winner is.....

2009-04-03T19:13:00.004+02:00

Commenter #13:
Random numbers generated Apr 3 2009 at 19:12:10 by http://www.psychicscience.org/.

Congratulations Sherry and Gena! Please email me at: htewkes@hotmail.com to claim your prize :o)

A big thank you to all of the lovely people who answered my questions! You have been a great help, and I hope to be able to add many of the items that were mentioned. I have so many ideas for boy patterns running through my head, and hopefully I can get them organized and actually produce some great things over the next few months!

I will be having another giveaway once I reach 50 followers, so keep checking back! It will be a good one... :o)

SO EXCITED!!

2009-03-31T22:11:00.003+02:00

Keep the ideas coming girls!! You have my creative little brain flowin'! I have already drawn up a couple of ideas for boy's outfits, and I have some other ideas that I am thinking about. I can't wait to start developing the actual patterns for everything! I also have a few ideas for some tutorials as well after seeing everyone's posts. Plus, I also have some great places to find excellent tutorials as well :o) I will be posting like crazy over the next few weeks I'm sure hehe. So thank you everyone for all your wonderful ideas, and I can't wait to see more! Looking forward to the giveaway in a few days :o)

Let the free giveaway begin!

2009-03-28T22:44:00.004+01:00

Now that I have reached 25 followers, let the free giveaway begin! First, I will start with the prize description for this first giveaway. This prize will consist of your choice of 6 of the clippies in the picture below and along with these I will be including a coordinating (not necessarily matching but coordinating colors) 3 inch boutique style bow for each clippie. All of my bows and clippies also include a no-slip grip which works wonderfully for that fine baby hair. That means you will be receiving 6 clippies and 6 bows!! That will gave a great selection for any little princess to wear :o)

Now, let me explain how to participate. I am in the process of working on a few of my own original patterns and have a few ideas, but I would love to know what others would actually like to see. There are many children's clothing patterns out there that are availabe already, but I would like to know if there is anything that you just haven't been able to find or even if there is just a type of tutorial that you would like to see. Leave a comment on this post letting me know what patterns you would like to see or what tutorials you think might be useful, and you will be entered into the giveaway! On Friday April 3rd at 12:00pm EST, I will post the winner which will be chosen at random using a random number generator!

Finally Finished!

2009-03-26T21:21:00.007+01:00

SO, I know I have been talking about this dress for like a month, but I finally finished it. With the move and the kids, life got a little hectic there for a minute, but now we're back on track. I think this kimono-style dress turned out really cute, just a tad big for the little munky, but I'm sure she will grow into it quickly. I love the "comfy" look and feel of the dress itself, and I have to say that the pattern was very simple and easy to follow. It took me just a couple of hours to make once I actually got started. The only thing that I didn't add was the tie that is supposed to be on the front waist because she would inevitably just sit and chew on it until it was an icky little mess. Otherwise, I followed the pattern for the 9-12 months, and it fit her just about perfectly (shockingly enough, since she's wearing 12-18 months in most things now LOL). This is one of the many different patterns included in Amy Butler's "little stitches for little ones" book. I highly recommend it to anyone with little ones or in need of a gift for a new mommy. So many ideas and all of which are very easy to follow and understand. Be sure to check it out!

The Rainbow of Clippies

2009-03-16T19:43:00.003+01:00

I have been working on clippies and hairbows for my girls and some other family members over the past few days (in between the unpacking of endless boxes). It is my way of relaxing, and it's a chance to think of something other than where I'm going to put my zillion framed pictures without using the unpenetrable cement walls.

Also, some of these clips and some of the hairbows in an upcoming post will be part of the first giveaway prize. I only need 7 more followers to reach 25, so come on girls!! It will be a great prize package, so grab your friends and have them come follow me too!

I'm Back!

2009-03-10T08:45:00.006+01:00

I finally have internet again! I was on the verge of going crazy without it due to my obsessive need to check my email 20 times a day. I did figure out that my days are much more productive when I don't have the computer around though. We are mostly unpacked except for the pile of boxes still left in the basement which I just can't bring myself to tackle right now, maybe this weekend. I am going to finally finish that dress for my little Chunky Munky this week, and I will be posting pics later on. It should turn out super cute, and I love the fabric that I chose for this one. The projects will start flowing more now that I am getting organized and have a little more space and time on my hands. Spring and summer are just around the corner, and I have so many ideas for clothing and patterns that I can barely keep them all straight!

The New House

2009-02-28T21:24:00.003+01:00

Just wanted to post a slideshow of our new house! Finally, we get to move in! We have a few more rooms in the basement that I didn't include in the pics, but if you've seen one room with tile floors and cement walls, you have seen them all. I am so excited to actually have some space to move around after being stuck in this little 2-bdrm apartment for the past month and a half!

A little late, I know!

2009-02-25T22:01:00.008+01:00

SO, I have had quite the busy week! We are getting ready to move into our new house on Monday, and I am so excited!! I just lost track of time, and then we lost internet connection for almost 2 full days. You know that I almost panicked and went through withdrawals. Now, after giving you all my excuses for why I didn't get to post any of the possible giveaway prizes, here are just a few for you to take a little peak at. There will be more to come when I get a free minute to take some extra pictures. I am only 9 people away from having 25 followers, so keep an eye out for the first giveaway posting....

Adorable Flower Headbands

made by yours truly

Super Cute Crochet Hats

made by Busy Hands Boutique

Sanity Saver a.k.a Crayon Caddy

made by me as well

Tell everyone!!

2009-02-17T21:42:00.004+01:00

So, I have decided to start something new. Something that I think everyone will really enjoy! In an effort to get more followers, I have decided to start having some fantastic giveaways. Prizes could possibly include hair accessories, clothing items, patterns, and many other items. All items will be handmade in nature by me or fellow crafters.

The first giveaway will be when I have reached 25 followers, and then there will be another giveaway for every 25 more followers. Once I have reached the first 25, I will post a blog with the featured prize. If you would like to enter the giveaway, you will have to comment on at least one post within my blog. Then, the winner will be chosen randomly at the end of 1 week!

I will post pictures of some possible prizes tomorrow, so keep your eyes open for the latest updates :o)

Shirring 101

2009-02-14T21:41:00.017+01:00

I had a couple of people ask me about tips on shirring after I posted the peasant tops that I made for the girls. So, I decided to make a short tutorial on how I shirred all of the areas of these shirts. Originally, I tried to use the method that the pattern suggested, but it just wasn’t quite turning out the way that I wanted. So, I played with it until I found what I liked, which is in the tutorial below.

1. You will need elastic thread for your bobbin only. Your top thread will be whatever you choose for your topstitch to be. You will also want to make sure that you hand-wind the thread (this I did find out from the pattern). You will want to wind your elastic firmly around the bobbin, pulling just slightly to give it some tightness. Then, insert the bobbin, and you are ready for the next step.

2. Next, you will want to make sure that you are doing your shirring on the right (top) side of the fabric, so that your elastic is on the back side of the fabric. Always make sure to start with the needle in the fabric that way you know exactly where it will start the row. Now, the position of your first row is your preference. For this example, I chose to make it about a half an inch from the topstitch of the hem. In the previous posted project, I started the first row about a quarter of an inch from the edge of the rolled hem.

3. Hold on to the elastic thread when you first start to sew (just so the elastic doesn’t shrink back into the bobbin). Then, do a quick backstitch to lock everything into place and start stitching around the edge back to where you began. Now, backstitch again, and then leave a little extra elastic before cutting because you will now tie both the beginning elastic and the ending elastic together in a couple of knots to make sure the elastic has a secure hold.

4. Now, you will move over and line up your first stitch line with the right edge of the presser foot, and follow the same process as in Step 3. One thing that you will need to do each time from this point on is make sure the fabric is flat as you are feeding it through the presser foot.

5. You can continue this process for as many lines as you would like shirred, depending on the project you are working on.

6. The last thing that I do (which I did learn this step from the pattern as well) is to use your iron on the steam setting and just shoot some steam onto the area that was shirred. This will gather the shirred area even more and give it a fantastic look and feel.

And VOILA!! You're finished and should have a perfectly shirred garment. If you have any questions, feel free to comment or email me!

Picture Perfect

2009-02-11T20:39:00.006+01:00

So, here they are, as promised, just not in the same picture. It is nearly impossible to get them to actually sit together and crack a smile at the same time. One is usually pulling hair, while the other one is complaining about having to help hold her sister up. The outfits did turn out wonderful though, and they were each happy to give mommy one of their big beautiful grins (as long as they didn't have to share the spotlight).

I LOVE my serger!

2009-02-06T21:25:00.006+01:00

I am in love with my new serger! I have been sewing like crazy since I opened the box, and I can't wait to make more outfits for the girls. This is my most recent project, which is the "Claire" peasant top from Sandi Henderson's Portabello Pixie patterns. Also, I used fabric from her gorgeous Farmer's Market line. Of course, I made them coordinate, so that the girls would match! I love the fact that they have such a finished look on the inside, and my favorite feature is the ability to do a rolled hem. This is one thing that I absolutely adore. It looks so much more professional than a plain, folded topstitch hem, especially on shirts like these. Considering this was one of my first serging projects, I think it turned out pretty nice. Although, I did have to do some slight alterations to the necklines because they were slightly large for both my girls. It doesn't seem to be too noticeable though. I will post a picture of them both wearing their new clothes as soon as I can get them both in the same place sitting still at the same time!!

Gotta Love This!

2009-01-30T00:40:00.011+01:00

Okay, so I fed my 6 month old her first real finger food (that wasn't a Cheerio) today. I started with tofu because it's nice and squishy and easy to chew. Big sister loved it when she was little, so I thought I would give it another try this time around too. And let me tell you! She thought that was the best thing outside of stealing and chewing on her sister's Barbies HAHA. Here are a few absolutely adorable pictures of her having a grand time squishing and shoving and smiling away!

Hmm... SQUISH!!!

OHHH!! I LOVE this stuff!!

I know I'm cute :o)

Getting settled, FINALLY!

2009-01-26T12:38:00.014+01:00

So, we have arrived! We have been in Germany for a week now, but what a completely hectic week for all of us. First of all, a 12 hour day spent flying and running all over airports with 2 kids under the age of 3 = CRAZINESS. But, they handled it very well, and we made it through the day. Upon arrival, 7:00am Germany time (while it was really midnight, at least for us), we headed to Heidelberg from Frankfurt airport (about 45 minute drive). After settling in our apartment, we all took a nice long nap which then caused us all to be up at 2:00am HAHA.

After a couple of days of recovery from jet lag, the next whirlwind of h*ll began. The girls and I all were hanging our heads over the toilet with a just lovely stomach virus that thankfully only lasted about 48 hours except for the little one, who is still having trouble keeping "everything" inside her diaper and not all over mommy's leg, YUCK.

OKAY, now that the first week is over and we are all much healthier and happier, let's hope this week goes better! We took a walk around our local area this morning and took a few pictures. Plus, I took a few pictures of our temporary apartment (going to look at houses tomorrow, YAY!). There are really some beautiful areas here, and I will add pictures as we go out and do more but at the moment we have only been around the base to the commissary, px, etc... not exactly breathtaking views hehe.

Okay, I just had to show this because it made me giggle.

Focus on the background and see the fantastic landscape.

Thought this was quaint, but don't ask me what that says.

Again, try to focus on the background and the houses on the hillside.

Just a typical German street

The girls' room, and I soooo miss having their individual rooms right now.

Our kitchen

Living Room

New Legislation!!

2009-01-06T21:12:00.006+01:00

I am posting this item directly from the She Does Hair Blog because I think that this is something that MUST be read by anyone and everyone! This is going to put so many home-based businesses through the ringer, and I can't believe it is going this far. I guess I should feel lucky that our move to Germany means that I am no longer able to sell my baby items and hairbows. Geez, it looks as though this would have put me out of business anyway! Here's the exact post, please take it into consideration. Thanks!!

I know this is a hair blog. I am totally aware of that. However, today I feel the need to put something out there that may push readers away.

Soon, a United States law will go into affect that will have a profound impact on small business, including ALL on my sidebar. It is called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. It is a law that in essence, prohibits anyone from selling products to children under twelve without rigorous lead testing. This includes ANY products intended for use by a child. Small businesses, Etsy, E-bay, Craigslist, Freecycle, thrift stores, garage sales, even hand-me-downs are included in this measure.

I am disgusted. That means no more give-aways. I could be prosecuted if I give something to one of my readers. I would by law be required to provide a "chain" to where I received the item, and the person who donated the item as well. Can we say McCarthy?

All items that haven't been tested for lead by February 10th will be required to be thrown into a landfill. I am disgusted that the country I live in, who boasts of its many freedoms, would do something as heinous as this. So much for "going green".

I understand the need to test for lead, however the lead problems are from China. Not the beautiful heirloom doll house my dad made for me when I was a little girl. According to the law, instead of leaving it to my girls, we will have to toss it. You won't be able to give those hardly used clothes to Goodwill or your neice or neighbor. Clothing prices at retailers will go through the roof because of the sheer cost of testing each article of clothing. I was thinking today that it reminds me a lot of why our country established it's own union. Taxation without representation. The bottom line is what matters. Forcing people to buy retail instead of buying used. They can't tax clothing that has already been sold. No more boutique clothes. No more homemade puzzles. No more toys that Grandpa lovingly worked on for over a month.

What makes me even sicker is that OUR house passed it with no nays and only a few in the Senate. I have a pit in my stomach. I can only imagine who is in the back pockets of these lawmakers.

For living in a country that boasts being a democracy, it sure feels a lot like communism.

To see more about National Bankruptcy Day SEE HERE

To see how it will effect the prices of your children's clothing, SEE HERE

An article to see how this will effect thrift stores SEE HERE

How it will effect small business like Etsy SEE HERE

For a Facebook group that helps you to see how you may be able to change the law SEE HERE

Write your congressman! I just did!!!

Our first REAL hairdo!

2009-01-01T03:51:00.006+01:00

After that haircut yesterday, I decided to try out a new hairstyle that I had been looking at for the past week. Thanks to http://shedoeshair.blogspot.com/ I was able to complete the first REAL hairdo that my 2 yr old has ever had (outside of ponies and pigtails). I absolutely loved this hairstyle. I thought it would be fantastic with her little bouncy curls (not to mention easy for my first attempt at something new). Her instructions were fabulous although my ponytails and knots weren't quite so fab (due to human error not teaching error). Also, I will definitely remember to use clear hairbands next time because my knots are just not quite good enough yet to not see the rubber bands. And my parts are lacking a little in the straightness category, but with a constantly moving head that can be slightly difficult. I still think it looked nice for my first attempt, and with her natural curls I didn't have to do anything past the ponytail steps. And YES, those are all natural curls, no curling iron required (thank goodness because I think I would be scared to try that as I am trying to chase my daughter across the room with the curling iron still attached to her head). I just had to show off my accomplishment and how cute it turned out! Maybe someday I will try to bravely attempt something even bigger and better...

To cut or not to cut...

2008-12-31T05:25:00.007+01:00

So, I decided to take a leap and cut my 2-yr old's hair today for only the 2nd time in her life. Let me tell you, that had to be one of the biggest decisions that I have made in awhile! Her curly hair is so adorable, and I kept having a huge debate in my head about what would look best and whether I really wanted to snip off any of those beautiful curls. BUT, it was starting to lose those cute little curlies because of the length and weight, which was also causing not-so-pretty pigtails and ponies. After a few days of thinking on it, I decided to cut off about 2 inches from the length. She was a perfect little angel and sat stone still (well, as still as can be expected for a 2-yr old, a few wiggles were squeezed in) while I cut off those precious locks. I was SOOOO happy that I followed through!! I now have those wonderful bouncy curls back along with the cute little piggies and ponies! No more having to make little loopy ponytails to keep it from looking thin and stringy! Sometimes the hardest decisions are the best choices.

"The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice." ~ George Eliot

Cookies & Traditions

2008-12-24T18:24:00.010+01:00

Yesterday, my little girl made her first batch of Christmas cookies! She was so excited to help Grandma cut out each of the delicate little cookies. It was so cute watching her as she pushed down on the little cookie cutters and used all of her concentration to make sure she was very careful to be gentle when pulling them off to put on the pan. And the highlight of the event was the sprinkling of the sugar on the tops of each cookie. She got a little sugar happy with a few of the cookies, so they were extra sweet!

I think this is such a great tradition to start with the girls, and it should be very entertaining as the years go by. I hope that it will be something that they will continue to remember and enjoy, and maybe continue with their own kids.

"What an enormous magnifier is tradition! How a thing grows in the human memory and in the human imagination, when love, worship, and all that lies in the human heart, is there to encourage it." ~ Thomas Carlyle

Soo cute!!

2008-12-14T19:28:00.005+01:00

I LOVE this reversible pinafore tutorial that I found! This blogger is wonderful!! She has a number of other tutorials which look super easy and cute, and I can't wait to try my hand at this dress, especially for my little diva. What I really love about this is EVERYTHING, but I especially love that it is 2 outfits in one which makes for double duty. You know those times when your out for lunch at TGIFridays when your 2-yr old decides that she HAS to have spaghetti for dinner, even though you need to run 20 more errands after? Well, now she can have that spaghetti and even though she will inevitably spill it on herself, you can reverse the dress, and BAM!! a new clean outfit! How absolutely wonderful is that? Also, I love the fact that it can be worn as a dress or shirt, just depending on how you make it. It can even grow with your child from dress to shirt. And that's not all, you can wear it in every season, just add a shirt underneath! Could this pinafore BE any better??? Can't wait to make some for my girls! Will post results when I get the chance to start after the holidays...

My Little Diva

2008-12-06T18:27:00.008+01:00

So, after that previous post all about one child, I figured that I should post a little something about my 1st born. She is my little princess with a little bit of tomboy as well. She is about as independent as they come and MUST do everything "by myself!!" but somehow still she cannot put that shoe on Barbie by herself (even though I have secretly seen her do it many times before). Typical two-year old, right? She is a beautiful little girl with a heart of gold though, and her latest new phrase is, "Mommy, I love you sooo much!" I know, I know, I'm being a sucker for falling for that, especially when she says it every single time that she gets into trouble. How can I resist those big brown eyes looking up at me with her arms wrapped around my legs and that cute little smile?? But truly, she does love everyone and everything, especially every known animal at the zoo. She is obsessed with zoo animals and pets, and with her very vivid imagination makes our entire house her own zoo of stuffed animals from the bears in the oven to the giraffe behind the couch. I will stop here because you will inevitably hear much more about her as time goes on, she is endlessly and always amusing us!

What kind of name is "Chunky Munky?"

2008-12-06T06:39:00.011+01:00

So, I know you're probably wondering, "what was she thinking with that name??" Who names their blog The Chunky Munky, right? WELL, if you had seen my second child at birth, then you would understand where the name originated from...Weighing in at a lovely 9 lbs 10ozs, she made mommy decide that she would never say NO to pain meds during pregnancy EVER again. BUT that's beside the point considering there are absolutely NO plans for anymore little munchkins. I am very content with the two little divas that I have :o) Well, I digress... back to the name thing. I had been wracking my brain for months trying to decide on a suitable name for the boutique that I had high hopes for starting one day, but I could never seem to find anything that didn't sound completely stupid or frufru. From day one, we started calling my youngest(previous said chunky baby) our little chunky monkey. Then, after a week I had one of those enlightening moments where you think, "Wow, that's perfect, and why didn't I think of that before." And now it is pretty self-explanatory where this blog's name came from. I decided to continue on using it despite the lack of my boutique which may reoccur down the line after our little Germany trip, but until then it will be the name for my snazzy little piece of the blogging world.

My little Chunky Munky